Published Tuesday, 10 July, 2007 at 02:13 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
QLD RESEARCHER WORKING TO ENSURE OUR FUTURE WATER SECURITY
A Queensland researcher will develop new water purification technology thanks to help from the State Government.
Minister for State Development John Mickel said Dr Wayde Martens of the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) had received a $150,000 Smart State Fellowship under Round 2 of the Government’s Smart State Innovation Funds to develop technology to enable wastewater to be used in a variety of ways.
“Dr Martens’ technology will help to sustain one of our most vital natural resources – water,” Mr Mickel said.
“Given Queenslanders may soon be drinking recycled water, it’s a timely piece of technology.”
Dr Martens’ water purification technology is based on adding nano-structured titanium dioxide to water – a mineral which, when heated with ultraviolet (UV) light, works like a semi-conductor. The energised mineral breaks down organic chemicals and hormones, destroying bacteria and viruses.
These chemical reactions render the water safe to reuse or drink.
Dr Martens’ technology will aid in the reuse of water and also increase the environmental safety of sewerage that’s treated before being released into the environment.
He said widespread implementation of the technology would help sustain and improve water productivity, especially in industrial areas, and would enable a greater reuse of urban and industrial waste waters.
Dr Martens said his technology was more efficient than technologies currently in use.
“We’ve found our process is able to break down organic materials faster than current technologies,” he said.
“Now we’ll start honing the technology through extensive testing on wastewater. The testing will determine which molecules can be broken down and whether we’ll need to change the chemistry of the catalyst to target various types of molecules.
“Preliminary tests show the technology is capable of breaking down a host of different organic materials.
Mr Martens said his technology would be suitable for a range of different applications, from delivering ultra-pure water for the electronic industry to recycled wastewater for watering gardens.
“Though there’s still a lot of testing to be done, our hope is to eventually use the technology to provide safe drinking water.”
The Smart State Fellowships are part of the Queensland Government’s $200 million Smart State Innovation Funding Program, which aims to build world-class research facilities, attract top-quality scientists to Queensland and stimulate cutting-edge research projects.
Round Two of the Smart State Innovation Funds set out about $18.5 million in assistance, including project funding, research fellowships and university internships
Mr Mickel is hosting a special reception at 3pm today for the latest recipients of the Smart State Fellowship and Queensland Clinical Research Fellowship programs at the Queensland Room, the Executive Building, 100 George Street, Brisbane.
“The Queensland Government has invested more than $3 billion in innovation, science and research since 1998. I think this demonstrates our deep and ongoing commitment to maintaining Queensland’s reputation as the Smart State,” Mr Mickel said.
Dr Martens’ Smart State Fellowship will be co-sponsored by Alternative Energy Technologies and QUT, who will match the funding.
Contact details for Dr Wayde Martens: 3138 2265 M 0421 320 377 or w.martens@qut.edu.au
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784
10 July, 2007
Minister for State Development John Mickel said Dr Wayde Martens of the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) had received a $150,000 Smart State Fellowship under Round 2 of the Government’s Smart State Innovation Funds to develop technology to enable wastewater to be used in a variety of ways.
“Dr Martens’ technology will help to sustain one of our most vital natural resources – water,” Mr Mickel said.
“Given Queenslanders may soon be drinking recycled water, it’s a timely piece of technology.”
Dr Martens’ water purification technology is based on adding nano-structured titanium dioxide to water – a mineral which, when heated with ultraviolet (UV) light, works like a semi-conductor. The energised mineral breaks down organic chemicals and hormones, destroying bacteria and viruses.
These chemical reactions render the water safe to reuse or drink.
Dr Martens’ technology will aid in the reuse of water and also increase the environmental safety of sewerage that’s treated before being released into the environment.
He said widespread implementation of the technology would help sustain and improve water productivity, especially in industrial areas, and would enable a greater reuse of urban and industrial waste waters.
Dr Martens said his technology was more efficient than technologies currently in use.
“We’ve found our process is able to break down organic materials faster than current technologies,” he said.
“Now we’ll start honing the technology through extensive testing on wastewater. The testing will determine which molecules can be broken down and whether we’ll need to change the chemistry of the catalyst to target various types of molecules.
“Preliminary tests show the technology is capable of breaking down a host of different organic materials.
Mr Martens said his technology would be suitable for a range of different applications, from delivering ultra-pure water for the electronic industry to recycled wastewater for watering gardens.
“Though there’s still a lot of testing to be done, our hope is to eventually use the technology to provide safe drinking water.”
The Smart State Fellowships are part of the Queensland Government’s $200 million Smart State Innovation Funding Program, which aims to build world-class research facilities, attract top-quality scientists to Queensland and stimulate cutting-edge research projects.
Round Two of the Smart State Innovation Funds set out about $18.5 million in assistance, including project funding, research fellowships and university internships
Mr Mickel is hosting a special reception at 3pm today for the latest recipients of the Smart State Fellowship and Queensland Clinical Research Fellowship programs at the Queensland Room, the Executive Building, 100 George Street, Brisbane.
“The Queensland Government has invested more than $3 billion in innovation, science and research since 1998. I think this demonstrates our deep and ongoing commitment to maintaining Queensland’s reputation as the Smart State,” Mr Mickel said.
Dr Martens’ Smart State Fellowship will be co-sponsored by Alternative Energy Technologies and QUT, who will match the funding.
Contact details for Dr Wayde Martens: 3138 2265 M 0421 320 377 or w.martens@qut.edu.au
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784
10 July, 2007